The 49-year-old - who played superbitch Cindy Beale in the Walford soap between 1988 and 1998 - takes on the role of Camille, mother to a young girl injured at the beginning of the new series.

Collins goes on to make weekly guest appearances until episode six.

Speaking to DS of the casting, series producer Oliver Kent said: "We're really, really excited to be working with Michelle Collins. It's obviously a number of years since she last worked with Michael French and their first scene together, which is in the third episode of the new series, is absolutely electric."

He continued: "She arrives in the first episode of the new series as Camille, the mum of a girl who's injured. She's with us for about six episodes. She looks fabulous and is a real force to be reckoned with."

During her time with EastEnders, Collins worked alongside French, who played serial womaniser David Wicks. Their Walford story came to an end when he helped an obsessive Cindy flee the country to escape husband Ian after she hired a hitman to kill him.